October 22, 2015

Meanwhile, Outside...

The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for September 2015 was the highest for September in the 136-year period of record, at 0.90°C (1.62°F) above the 20th century average of 15.0°C (59.0°F), surpassing the previous record set last year in 2014 by 0.12°C (0.19°F). This marks the fifth consecutive month a monthly high temperature record has been set and is the highest departure from average for any month among all 1629 months in the record that began in January 1880. The September temperature is currently increasing at an average rate of 0.06°C (0.11°F) per decade.

And is they were cued to, the braintrust over at the Tribune-Review posts this:

France Televisions has booted forecaster Philippe Verdier for writing a book that questions the theology of climate change. Mr. Verdier posited that the pastors and pols of global warming have “taken the world hostage.” France Televisions (akin to American public broadcasting) says its rules prevent anyone from using their professional status to push personal opinions. Cue the laugh track. [Bolding in original.]

Considering all the climate science evidence (not theology) that Monsieur Verdier has just rejected, why wouldn't they say au revoir? What credibility can he possibly have now?

Meanwhile, there's another issue approaching the editorial board of the Tribue-Review. From The Scientific American:

The latest UT Energy Poll released this morning reveals that U.S. attitudes on climate change have shifted significantly - and not just in the ways you might expect. Seventy-six percent of Americans now say that climate change is occurring--an increase from 68 percent just one year ago. Further, only 14 percent say it's not, compared with 22% when we first asked the question in the Spring of 2012.

The increase in acceptance climate change is not merely reflective of shifting attitudes on the left, which only rose a few points to 90 percent over the last six months. Republicans who say that climate change is occurring jumped from 47 percent in March to 59 percent this September. [Bolding in original.]

For the mathematically/scientifically illiterate, 59 percent is what's known in the biz as a majority.

According to this poll, at this point in time a majority of republicans believe that climate change is occurring.

I wonder how the braintrust will spin this one. If they ever address it, that is.